Guatemala: President Molina said that to deal with the border crisis it will be necessary for the US to implement a plan similar to Washington’s multi-billion-dollar initiative in Colombia. (EFE)

United States: Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said operating costs for the service’s newest ships will decline and “become more normal” over time. (AP)

United States: President Obama said the Federal Aviation Administration took “prudent action” in temporarily banning US flights in and out of Israel. (AP)

ASIA

Region: South Korean President Park Geun-Hye held a rare meeting with a Japanese politician as she received visiting Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe. (AFP)

Afghanistan: Suspected Taliban gunmen stopped two vehicles in Ghor province and shot dead 15 passengers at the side of the road. (AFP)

Indonesia: President Yudhoyono inaugurated Lt. General Gatot Nurmantyo as the new army chief of staff. (Xinhua)

Pakistan: A bomb killed at least two soldiers in the country’s northwestern tribal district where the army is carrying out a major offensive against Taliban militants. (AFP)

Philippines: The military said that soldiers attacked an Abu Sayyaf hideout on Basilan island, triggering a clash that killed three members. (AP)

EUROPE

Germany: The Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations said the country’s industry would support “100 percent” tougher sanctions against Russia. (AFP)

Turkey: Deputy PM Arincurkish said that PM Erdogan will be an “active” head of state if he wins presidential elections in August and will play a particularly strong role in foreign policy. (AFP)

Ukraine: President Poroshenko said that the military had reclaimed the strategically-important city of Lysychansk. (AFP)

Ukraine: Australian PM Abbott said Australia will send 100 additional police and some defense force personnel to Europe to join a planned Dutch-led international security force to secure the Flight MH17 crash site. (Reuters)